Yes, No, Maybe So: "War Horse"
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 12:00PM I didn't think we'd be getting this trailer so soon but I guess the year is getting on. Wowee - 2011 is half over tomorrow... should we do a "best of"? Herewith, the first trailer for Steven Spielberg's Christmas-time presumed Oscar frontrunner spectacle War Horse. We'll decide how excited we are with our yes, no, maybe so treatment.
Can you imagine flying over a war, and you know you can never look down? You have to look forward or you'll never get home. I ask you: What could be braver than that?
YES If there's any director who excels at capturing the spirit of (boy) wonder, it's Spielberg. The first shot of the lead (Jeremy Irvine as Albert) brings to mind both E.T. and Empire of the Sun in particular as a boy is amazed at the wonderment he beholds ...in this case, a horse rather than an alien or an airplane. The trailer also reminded me of something totally off-topic but that warmed my heart. Do you remember those old ads about indie movie making starring Jesse Eisenberg's little sister Hailee. Remember those? I forget what they were for. She played the world's youngest movie director or something?
My movie is called Horses Are Pretty because horses are pretty.
That they are. Don't think Spielberg won't know how to exploit their innate majesty.
NO "RUN FORREST ALBERT RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN" [trailer and Oscar commentary after the jump]
That's an awful lot of running by four legged and two legged beasts alike in only 2 minutes by four legged and two legged beasts alike. Those 120 seconds also contain approximately 120% of your daily recommended allowance of sentiment and 120 music swells, swells within swells within swells. It's swollen!
The first amusingly plays just as Spielberg's name appears). There are so many great glossy magazine shots that one has to consider this advertisement to be the First Official FYC Ad of Oscar season. They just forgot to superimpose "For Your Consideration" over the images.
Will Janusz Kaminski win his 3rd Oscar for cinematography?
If one were feeling uncharitable one could read the entire trailer as Parody of Oscar Movie By Steven Spielberg. Janusz Kaminski will undoubtedly be nominated for a fifth time in Best Cinematography (his only non-Spielberg film to receive the honor was The Diving Bell and Butterfly) but does he have more tricks up his sleeve than jaw-droppingly lovely silhouettes?
MAYBE SO Oscar fanatics, a club of which I am a proud member and cheerleader, will be salivating at the campaign possiblities ahead. Will we see a strong Supporting Actor bid for Niels Arestrup (who seems kindly and patrician as the grandfather -- a 180˚from his work in A Prophet and don't think some voting members won't notice that) or Supporting Actress heat for Emily Watson? Perhaps one of the soldiers, who aren't given anything to do in this first trailer, will steal some heat. Aren't you curious already? [Current Oscar predictions -- they'll be updated next week for sure.]
The Trailer in Question...
Your Turn. What makes you scream "Yes!", "No!" or [shrug] "maybe so"
Reader Comments (38)
nay
It looks well made, but it's just not my kind of movie at all. Where is the trailer for We Need To Talk About Kevin? THAT's what I'd like to see.
I'm a sucker for great cinematography, but this trailer was nothing but back-to-back pretty pictures and it bored me. This film was never at the top of my list, but I'll say "maybe" just because of the names attached.
I'll definitely see it.
As a teaser, it's got a lot of gorgeous-looking imagery, but hasn't done much to explain the narrative yet. Nonetheless, the craftsmanship is obvious, and both the production crew and the source material have high recommendations.
I'm a Maybe So...I had noticed the overly sentimental musical flourishes also and it just appeared a little bit desperate to appear to be "heart warming."
I do really hope that Emily Watson gets some juicy parts in this movie. I like her so much as an actress but feel like she hasn't done a lot lately.
I hate how popular and hipster it's become to hate on Spielberg. The trailer looks spectacular, and it's too bad a lot of people are just trying to find reasons to not like it.
par3182, is that "Nay" or "Neeeeeigh"? ;)
This movie seems to be a sure-fire success. I'm a "Yes" because I'm curious to know whether it's an Oscar success or just the equine version of Homeward Bound, that animal-centric family film that comes out every few years which you can't help but like a little bit.
The first thing I thought when I saw that "teaser frame" (The one shown before you actually start the video, what's it called?) was "Yay! David Kross!" only to then be disappointed because that's his only appearance in the trailer. Hmpf. Does anyone know how big his part in the film is? I think he's great.
I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't see it, but I'm not sold exactly.
God damnit, if El Chivo doesn't win an Oscar this year, I'ma be pissed again.
yes: spielberg. plus that cinematography is lovely.
no:the trailer length -_- that whole trailer could have been just as beautiful in one minute as opposed to 2
maybe so: we haven't had a good world war one movie in a while so I'm actually excited for this, though I fear it may skew too sentimental
Looks bland.
That is one beautiful horse.
I hear the play is okay, but the puppetry is spectacular - it won the Tony, so something about the piece is obviously touching people. I'm excited to see the play here next year. In the meantime, I got a lot of movement and music, just like you said. I'll see it though; how often does Spielberg make movies anymore?
Wanted to add: this movie looks beautiful BUT even without seeing the other nominees, if The Tree of Line doesn't win cinematography, something is wrong wrong wrong.
Gorgeous cinematography seems like the long and the short for me. Otherwise, it's a dull, sugary story about a boy and his horse in WW1. Snooze + Meh.
And I heard the play is only great BECAUSE of the puppets and staging so we'll see.
Yay for high profile work for Emily Watson though. Where HAS she been?
Evan -- ooh. good question "homeward bound" but as for Tree of Life and best cinematography i REALLY wish people would stop hoping for that. It is so *not* going to happen. A nomination would be awesome but that's not the kind of thing that wins no matter how deserving.
Justin -- do hipsters hate Spielberg? I thought it had come back round again. I know i am always unpopular in critics groups for my dislike of his filmography (though Jaws & Raiders are both pretty flawless)
Yes dammit! It's Spielberg.The only movie of his I've truly disliked is Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and I co-blame that on Lucas. This movie will probably make me cry and feel good about crying afterwards. It may be trite and sugary, as everyone has said, but I don't care.
RJ,
Who is El Chivo exactly?
I'm a YES just because I'm wholly intrigued by the film, not necessarily due to the trailer though.
They're trashing this already at AwardsDaily. Eff em. This is a great trailer. It's Spielberg being Spielberg, and some of us like that.
YES for me!
NO!
It was a YES for me when Spielberg started filming it and the beautiful cinematography helps. However, the subject and the trailer kind of scream Oscar Bait (albeit decent looking Oscar Bait), so I'd say a MAYBE on its own merit. Either way, I'm seeing it in.
Much to my surprise, I'm really excited for the movie, even more because of the trailer. As far as the acting races go, I think Niels Arestrup and Emily Watson will emerge as major contenders for their performances. The former probably has a much more Oscar bait role, but I'm thinking that Watson will get in since it's been more than a decade since her last nomination.
Yes:
It's Oscar bait.
I want Emily Watson to win an Oscar, and this is the best chance she will ever have.
I want to see if Spielberg has another great epic in him.
YES!
Yes:
- I love Steven Spielberg, always have. His first movie in 6 years (not counting Indy 4)
- not just pretty pictures; the cinematography looks absolutely astonishing. Love your picks, but you could have chosen nearly every single frame. Amazing. Kaminski will problably win his 3rd.
- Something new and very beautiful from John Williams!!
- sweet micture of melancholy and epicness
- looks very tear-jerky
No:
- a little too much sentimentality?
Maybe So:
- too straight forward.
It will work. Will be a wonderful und moving "Boy and his Dog/Horse" Story and I love those.
Yes, yes, yes. I go back and forth on gooey heartwarming movies, but I am absolutely incapable of resisting even the most mawkish sentiment when it comes from Spielberg and John Williams like that. Shit, I even loved Amistad.
Also, I really want to see what Arestrup can do in English.
So, I know that the movie has been positioned in the media as an Oscar contender from the minute it was announced, and that Spielberg does absolutely nothing to discourage this, but it's depressing to read the reaction to this trailer, as if the only context the film will ever be evaluated in is the @#$&^ Academy Awards. Again, Spielberg brings it on himself to a huge degree, but still. "eh, the cinematography's too pretty - OSCAR BAIT - MOVING ON."
med, "El Chivo" is Emmanuel Lubezki. In Mexico, he's more know with that especially with his collaboration with Cuaron.
I'm not sure how to say this without sounding immensely jerky: but since the turn of the century Spielberg has produced some of his most flawed yet interesting films, and I'm far more intrigued by this evolution of him as opposed to when he was making movies everyone loved.
I'm not sure how I feel about this film, but I'm sure I'll be seeing it for Oscar's sake if nothing else.
anon -- but why "el chivo" what does it mean?
I'm a definite "yes", but more because of its Oscar chances than anything else.
It really does look a bit like a parody, doesn't it?
freelance writer
Hmmm... Generally I like this type of cinematography but this movie looks very very plastic, almost as TinTin. Do you think Spielberg got stuck in that? Is this his new fase? the super-over-plastic-elaborated movies? You are right, this looks like a parody, but you'll never know, it could end being a masterpiece :/
Ps. 'El Chivo' is a young male goat; and it's a common nickname in Latin America.
"Yay for high profile work for Emily Watson though. Where HAS she been?"
Making movies in her home country that don't hold much interest to America, unfortunately.
The movie looks like it could be decent. I'll see it, obviously, but doesn't look like much to get *too* excited about.
At this early stage of the race, I don't think there's much competition in the Best Director race (Eastwood and Scorcese have both won in the last ten years, I don't think they're going to go for Malick, and even though they owe Fincher big time after this year's atrocity, I think a nomination is as far as they would go with a crowd-pleasing dark movie like DRAGON TATTOO). So, if both TINTIN and this turn out to be good movies (and if the movies from Payne and Crowe don't turn out to be masterpieces), my early prediction is that they will reward one of their most favourite sons with a third Directing Oscar next year for this.
Wellingston Sludge: I think it's actually somewhat of a misconception that Spielberg is an Academy favorite. Yes, he has won Best Director twice, but when you consider that he was snubbed for Jaws, Empire of the Sun, Amistad, and A.I., despite being nominated by other prominent awards groups for each of those films, it seems like they only nominate him when it's just inevitable decision (although Munich did surprise some people). Also, don't forget that the Academy is the organization who awarded Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan and didn't give Close Encounters so much as a nomination for Best Picture.
I think he could be nominated for War Horse if the movie turns out to be a critical smash (which I'm not sure it will), but I think a win is highly unlikely. I know it's too early to really tell, but call it a hunch: Spielberg is not getting his third Oscar this year.
Also, I think a lot of people are underestimating The Tree of Life. Right now, it may seem unlikely, but actually, all of the reports of polarized audiences and walk-outs can only help the film. How? Because the people who DO like the movie will probably only end up feeling more passionate and defensive about it. It won't get a lot of #4-10 votes, but a lot of #1 votes are assured.
Why would calling Emmanuel Lubeski a young male goat be considered endearing? Is this some Latin thing I'm not getting?
Anyway. Loved the trailer. So pretty. Can't wait to see the film.
Stephen Daldry has "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" coming out in December. His usual mediocrities will trump Scorsese, Fincher, Eastwood, Spielberg, and Malick for the Oscars, whoever gets nominated. See: Tom Hopper.